The Annotating Process 6 Steps of Annotating When annotating, complete all of these steps in the margins of the text: 1. Circle and define any unknown words. 2. Summarize each section/stanza. 3. Underline/highlight key phrases. 4. Note word patterns, repetitions, point of view, or anything else that strikes you as confusing or important (label literary/rhetorical devices). 5. Write down questions (at least 3). 6. Determine the overall theme(s), remembering that themes CANNOT be one word